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You can help tradies be fit for work

If you’re a PT or run a fitness business, have you thought about offering workouts sessions targeted to tradies? While you may offer boot camps to corporate groups, or classes aimed at mums-to-be or older populations, the tradespeople demographic may not have occurred to you – but perhaps it should.

Taking the fact that tradies need to be ‘fit for purpose’ as it’s jumping off point, Tradies National Health Month aims to raise awareness of the risks posed to those who work in trade occupations – among individuals, their families, employers and the wider community.

An initiative of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA), the campaign highlights how health and fitness professionals can play an important role in ensuring workers’ joints and muscles are ‘fit’ to avoid injury and help prevent long term health conditions.

Personal trainers and physiotherapists are ideal allies in this area and can work together to help tradies get healthy and fit for work. This includes through cross referrals or working together at workplaces.

If you train any tradespeople, then it’s worth reminding them of the following simple behaviours to help them stay fit for work:

Improve flexibility by stretching every morning for 5 to 10 minutes, because it’s crucial for them to be able to bend and reach without strain

Take frequent microbreaks during the day rather than infrequent long breaks

Stay hydrated – two litres per day on average days, and more on hot days

Keep core strong through safe exercises like Pilates

Sleep well and eat well, giving themselves the energy to remain healthy, alert and safe.